The Hindu : Front Page : Consensus is the only way out, says Oommen Chandy

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Monday, Jan 08, 2007
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Consensus is the only way out, says Oommen Chandy

George Jacob

`Government should not act in haste on self-financing issue'

Oommen Chandy calls for a pragmatic approach to the issue.

KOTTAYAM: Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy has called upon the State Government not to go ahead with the procedural formalities for admission to professional colleges for the coming academic year in haste, as it would only confound the already existing complexities. Speaking to The Hindu here on Sunday, Mr. Chandy said the need of the hour was to arrive at a consensus on the issue.

Realistic approach

Expressing his confidence that a solution was possible within the existing legal framework with regard to the self-financing professional colleges issue, Mr. Chandy said the important thing was that the Government take a more realistic and pragmatic approach on the issue.

"At present they are trying to implement stipulations which they themselves are not able to implement in Government-run professional colleges," Mr. Chandy said. "First of all, they have to accept self-financing institutions as a reality. Only then would they be able to formulate a realistic approach to the whole gamut of issues involved," the Opposition leader said.

Asked if a legal remedy would be better (than a consensus) so that any single management would not be able to upset the applecart once a consensus was reached, Mr. Chandy said the issue of social justice was not negotiable and such managements (who were in for total commercialisation of education) would not be able to withstand the cumulative pressure from the Government, other managements and social factors involved.

Social reality

"The present situation (following the High Court judgment where the managements have total sway over 100 per cent seats) is not acceptable in Kerala's peculiar social reality," Mr Chandy said and added that the United Democratic Front was still confident of implementing the 50:50 concept where the 50 per cent Government seats at Government fee structure would ensure social justice and the 50 per cent seats with the managements, under certain conditions, would ensure the viable functioning of these institutions.

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